Residents of Punjab and Haryana woke up to unusually warm mornings as minimum temperatures across both states settled significantly above the season's normal averages on Thursday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the mercury did not dip as low as expected for this time of year, marking a notable shift in the regional winter pattern.
Temperature Details Across Key Cities
The IMD's data revealed specific readings from major cities. In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees Celsius, which is a substantial three degrees above what is considered normal for the city. Similarly, Ludhiana's night temperature was logged at 10.2 degrees Celsius. Over in Haryana, Ambala registered a low of 10.4 degrees Celsius, also hovering above the typical mark for late December. Other areas, including Karnal, Hisar, and Chandigarh, the shared capital, reported minimums ranging between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius, all indicating a warmer-than-usual trend.
Forecast and Weather Conditions
The meteorological department has predicted that dry weather will prevail over the plains of Northwest India for the next five days. This means no immediate relief from the current conditions is expected. The absence of western disturbances, which typically bring cooler air and rain to the region during winter, is cited as a primary reason for the elevated night-time temperatures. The sky is expected to remain mainly clear, allowing daytime heat to dissipate less effectively into the night.
Implications and Regional Context
This persistent above-normal minimum temperature has several implications. For the agricultural sector, particularly for the standing Rabi crops like wheat, warmer nights can affect crop development and potentially impact yield if the trend continues. For the general public, it alters the typical winter experience, reducing the need for heavy woolens during the early hours. The weather pattern stands in contrast to the dense fog and colder waves often experienced in the Indo-Gangetic plains during this period, highlighting an anomalous climatic phase in Punjab and Haryana as the year draws to a close.
